2016 Arts & Humanities Capacity Building Recipients

July 13th, 2016

Sidney Myer Fund and Tim Fairfax Family Announce Recipients of the 2016 Capacity Building and Sector Strengthening Program

On 13 July 2016 the Sidney Myer Fund and the Tim Fairfax Family Foundation announced the successful recipients of the co-funded Capacity Building Program for Queensland and Northern Territory artists and arts organisations.

Between them, the successful 13 organisations will receive $500,000 over 2016 and 2017.

This is the second iteration of this Sidney Myer Fund program and the first co-funded by the Tim Fairfax Family Foundation and the Sidney Myer Fund.

“This program is the only one of its kind in Australia,” said Carrillo Gantner AO, Chairman of the Sidney Myer Fund. “Our independent artists are the least likely to receive support for their activities, the least able to access advocacy channels, but the most critical to our cultural life. We are very pleased to be working with the Tim Fairfax Family Foundation and investing in Australia’s future in this manner.”

Tim Fairfax AC, Chairman of the Tim Fairfax Family Foundation said “As a strong believer in collaboration it is inspiring to be working with the Sidney Myer Fund to build the capacity of the arts in Queensland and the Northern Territory. We look forward to working with small to medium arts organisations.”

The Capacity Building Program will strengthen and grow the independent arts and cultural sector in Australia by granting money to ensembles, collectives and groups that are highly connected within their sector, and producing excellent work. Funds will be awarded untied – to be applied as the recipients see fit in the course of their everyday activities.

The 2016 recipients were selected by the Sidney Myer Fund’s Arts and Humanities Committee and the Trustees and Advisory of the Tim Fairfax Family Foundation with assistance from panellists Lindy Hume, Suellen Maunder, Susan Street and Marcel Dorney.

The first year of the program was open to applicants from Victoria and Tasmania. The program’s geographic focus will shift in its next funding round. Applications to the 2017 program will open in early 2017.